The Counseling RelationshipIntroduction to the Counselling Profession Tony Thampi 1 Quick Review What is Counseling? According to the American Counseling Association, counseling is: “The application of mental health, psychological or human development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic interventions, strategies that address wellness, personal growth, or career development, as well as pathology.” Tony Thampi Quick Review What is Guidance? “Guidance is a process of helping people make important choices that affect their lives, such as choosing a preferred lifestyle” (Gladding, 2000, pg. 4). Tony Thampi Quick Review What is Psychotherapy? Traditionally focuses on serious problems associated with intrapsychic, internal, and personal issues and conflicts. It deals with the “recovery of adequacy” (Casey, 1996, p. 175 as quoted in your text). Tony Thampi Our Focus While the boundaries between counseling, guidance, and psychotherapy are changing and blurring, we are going to focus our efforts on the application of counseling. Tony Thampi Factors that Influence Change The counseling process is influenced by several characteristics that help it become a productive time for the client & counselor. Structure Setting Client Qualities Counselor Qualities Tony Thampi . but generally. the following help bring about positive results. Not all characteristics apply to all situations. Many clients come to counseling with no idea what to expect.Factors that Influence Change Structure. Tony Thampi .246). and parameters of counseling” (Day & Sparacio. This give form to what the formal process will look like. p. Counseling moves forward when client and counselor know the boundaries of the relationship and what is expected. conditions. procedures. The “joint understanding between the counselor & client regarding the characteristics. 1980. but the professional generally works in a place that provides Privacy. Confidentiality. Quiet and Certain comfort Tony Thampi . Counseling can happen anywhere.Factors that Influence Change Physical Setting. E.O.S.L. Tony Thampi . you want to send a message that you are listening. This can be done by being attentive both verbally (responding to the client) and nonverbally. SOLER is an acronym which serves to remind us how to listen.R. When working with a client. one over the other. Tony Thampi . that is. Be aware of their space needs. lean toward him or her. L: As you face your client. relax. E: Maintain eye contact. O: Adopt an open posture. Looking away or down suggests that you are bored or ashamed of what the client is saying. Looking at the person suggests that you are interested and concerned. S: Face the client squarely. R: As you incorporate these skills into your attending listening skills. adopt a posture that indicates involvement. Sit with both feet on the ground to begin with and with your hands folded. Readiness can be thought of as the motivation that the client brings into the session. Tony Thampi . Resistance is generally seen in those clients who are forced into counseling.Factors that Influence Change: Client Readiness or Reluctance or Resistance. They bring a motivation to cling to their issues through various sorts of actions. How motivated are they to work? Their interest Reluctance is generally seen in those clients who are referred for help by a third party and are unmotivated. Counselors generally like to work with clients who are most like them.Factors which influence change Client & Counselor Qualities. initially like to work with counselors who are perceived as experts. Tony Thampi . Clients. We are influenced by the physical characteristics of the client. trustworthy. attractive. depending on culture. It is important to be aware of how you work with all clients and offer your best work to all clients. not for the individual. All decision-making rests with the client. but still accepts the client as a person). Tony Thampi . Counseling emphasizes thinking with. Counseling is basically a permissive relationship. that is.Some Basic Principles Each client must be accepted as an individual and dealt with as such (the counselor does not necessarily approve of all behavior. the individual has permission to say what they please without being reprimanded or judged. Effectiveness in counseling depends largely on the readiness of the client to make changes and the therapeutic relationship with the counselor. The counseling relationship is confidential.Some Basic Principles Counseling is centered on the difficulties of the client. Tony Thampi . Counseling is a learning situation which eventually results in a behavioral change. Tony Thampi . There are several skills which are useful during this phase of counseling. It is during this time both the client and the counselor are assessing one another to see if the relationship will work. It is here the subject of the subsequent sessions will be discussed and determined.The Initial Session There is always an initial session. Gathering Information Types of Questions: Open—allows the client to answer the question in a free-flowing or narrative style. Used when you want more detailed and elaborate answers. Tell me how this is working for you? Closed—this type of question requires only a one or two word response. Usually…Yes or No. Do you enjoy that type of work? Tony Thampi . what. where.Gathering Information Types of Questions: Probes—a questions which begins with a who. how. Help me understand what this relationship is for? Tony Thampi . What do you plan to do to complete your project? Requests for Clarification—Asking the client for more information. or when. In efforts to build the relationship. there are other skills which you must possess and develop. The skills you need include the following: Tony Thampi . you would concentrate more on the client‟s attitudes and emotions.Gathering Information & Building the Relationship When you can take the time to build the relationship with the client & gather information. Tony Thampi . A re-statement of what you heard the client say in slightly different words. but you are concentrating more on the emotional aspect & the non-verbal communication. Similar to a re-statement.Gathering Information & Building the Relationship Restatement/Content Paraphrasing. Reflection of Feeling. You are noting to the client what you are seeing. You are not interpreting the non-verbal content. A simple summary paraphrase of several feelings which have been verbalized (non-verbal and verbal).Gathering Information & Building the Relationship Summary of Feelings. Acknowledgement of Non-verbal Behavior. Tony Thampi . Most common among them Advice Giving include: Lecturing Excessive Questioning Storytelling Asking “Why?” Asking “How did that make you feel?” Tony Thampi .Some Non-Helpful Behaviors There are several lists of non-helpful behaviors. Goal Guidelines Goals are mutually agreed on by the client and counselor. Goals are specific. Goals are relevant to behavior. Goals are behavioral & observable. Goals are quantifiable & measurable. Goals are understandable & can be restated clearly. Tony Thampi . Goals are achievement & success oriented. you begin to gain an understanding of the client’s world view. and often seen only one way.Perceiving Reality “Perception is Reality” As you move past the initial stage of counseling. As you work with a client. Tony Thampi . How they perceive reality is considered true by the client. you may offer new frames to their pictures of reality (re-framing) and fresh ways to look at things. Empathy Leading Responding Self Disclosure Immediacy Humor Confrontation Tony Thampi .Important Skills/Tools for the Counselor There are several important skills which we will cover briefly. Each is considered a “microskill” which you will need to develop during the clinical sequence of the counselor training program. Empathy You want to build the relationship with the client through all the previously mentioned skills. Tony Thampi . Yet all these skills will be hindered without the use of empathy. to experience the client‟s world as if it were your own without ever losing the „as if‟ quality.Empathy According to Rogers (1961)… This is the ability to enter the client‟s phenomenological world. It involves two specific skills: Perception/understanding of what is taking place emotionally. The ability to communicate your understanding of that to your client. Tony Thampi . Tony Thampi . It is absolutely essential the other person “feel” understood—that your understanding is perceived.Empathy According to Martin (1983)… Empathy is communicated understanding of the other person’s intended emotional message. It is not enough to understand. It is not enough to understand what the person said. the intended message. you must communicate your understanding somehow. you must also hear what they meant to say. even deeply. Every word counts in this definition. and emotions that are below the surface of what is being shared by the client. Advanced Empathy: This takes the relationship one step further. You are exploring themes.Two Forms of Empathy Primary Empathy: Responding in such a way that it is apparent to both the client & counselor the counselor has understood the client‟s major themes. issues. meanings. Tony Thampi . You also use an appropriate level of empathy for the stage of counseling. you will be using different levels of empathy. Tony Thampi . empathy will deepen as you know more about your client and their story.Levels of Empathy Throughout your time with a client. As the sessions progress. Levels of Empathy 1. they do so in a way which subtracts noticeable affect (emotion) from the communications of the client. 2. Although the counselor responds to the expressed feelings of the client. Tony Thampi . The verbal & behavioral expressions of the counselor either do not attend to or detract from the verbal & behavioral expressions of the client. 4. The expressions of the counselor in response to the expressions of the client are essentially interchangeable. The response of the counselor add noticeably to the expressions of the client in a way that expresses feelings a level deeper than the client was able to express.Levels of Empathy 3. Tony Thampi . The counselor‟s responses add significantly to the feeling & meaning of the expressions of the client in a way that accurately expresses feeling levels below what the client is able to express.Levels of Empathy 5. Tony Thampi . or what you think the client should be working on.Moving the Client—Leading There are several ways to “lead” the client forward in a session. paraphrasing. etc… Be aware of how you lead and where you are going. Tony Thampi . They include using silence. not your issues. acceptance. You are working on the client‟s issues. Moving the Client—Leading Restatement of content Reflection of content Reflection of feeling Minimal Encouragers: “I see” or “uh huh” General Encouragers: Direct client talk more on a specific topic. “Please say some more about…” Encouragement/Support Therapeutic Silence Tony Thampi ..g. e. While counseling helps people work through feelings. Tony Thampi . This is not true. how one responds and communicates with others will effect how the counselor responds to the client.Responding Styles Counseling is often perceived as just focusing on feelings. Focusing on feelings. Behavioral Responses. Tony Thampi .Responding Styles Affective Responding. You will balance these throughout the session with a client. Focusing on actions and behaviors. Cognitive Response. Focusing on thoughts and cognitions. while not enough. Tony Thampi .Self-Disclosure Self-disclosure is making oneself known to another person (the client) by revealing personal information. may inhibit the client from forming a bond with the counselor. Counselors self-disclosure is only necessary as it relates to the therapeutic process. Too much self-disclosure hinders the counseling process. There are 2 types: Relationship immediacy.Immediacy This involves a counselor’s understanding and communicating of what is going on between the counselor and client within the helping relationship. (Between client & counselor) “Here & Now” immediacy focuses on some particular event in the session. Tony Thampi . It does not demean and is supportive. Tony Thampi .Humor Humor can have a positive effect on the counseling process when used properly. A session is not a time to try out a new joke heard at lunch. It must be used with sensitivity and timing. A Challenge… Tony Thampi .Confrontation This is not skill at putting the client down for doing something wrong!! This is an invitation to the client to look more closely at behavior that is not working or interfering with growth. change. or healthy functioning. ” Tony Thampi . Example: “You have said you want to change this behavior but it seems you keep doing it over and over again.Confrontation Before you confront someone you want to make sure the relationship is strong and able to withstand the challenge of the confrontation. Help me to understand what is going on and how repeating this pattern is helpful to you. & psychotherapy.Transference & Countertransference A concept as old as Freud. transference and countertranference are issues that affect all forms of counseling. guidance. Tony Thampi . Transference & Countertransference Transference. Tony Thampi . It can be direct or indirect and will cause the client to react to you as they would in the past or present relationship. or desires onto the counselor. attitudes. This is the client’s projection of past or present feelings. It can take on many forms. Tony Thampi .Transference & Countertransference Counter-transference. supervision or counseling for the counselor is called for. to wanting to develop a social or sexual relationship with the client. This is the counselor’s projected emotional reaction to or behavior towards the client. from a desire to please the client. When this happens. Set up next appointment.”).Termination of a Session There is no great secret to ending sessions. Tony Thampi . Introduce the end of the session normally (“Our time is coming to a close. Leave 5 minutes or so for a summary of the session. There are some guidelines: Start and end on time. Assign homework. Changes which have taken place have generalized into the normal behavior of the client. A formal termination serves three functions: Counseling is finished and it is time for the client to face their life challenges.Termination of the Relationship Termination is the end of the professional relationship with the client when the session goals have been met. The client has matured and thinks and acts more effectively and independently. Tony Thampi . Timing of Termination There is no one answer when termination is to take place. Questions you may wish to ask yourself concerning termination include: Have clients achieved behavioral. or affective goals? ? Can clients concretely show where they have made progress in what they wanted to accomplish? ? Is the counseling relationship helpful? ? Has the context of the initial counseling arrangements changed? Tony Thampi . cognitive. In many cases this may be the result of feelings about the loss and grief or insecurities of losing the relationship. this is an issue for supervision. For clients.Resistance to Termination Clients & Counselors may not want counseling to end. For counselors. this is something to process. Tony Thampi . Many clients may end counseling before all goals are completed. Tony Thampi . This can be seen by not making appointments. At this time a referral may be in order. resisting new appointments.Premature Termination Client. etc… It is a good idea to try and schedule a termination/review session with the client so closure may take place. Premature Termination Counselors. counselors have to end counseling prematurely. Tony Thampi . Whatever the reason for the termination. to another counselor. if appropriate. a summary session is in order and referrals are made. At times. a counselor needs to make a referral. Tony Thampi .Referrals At times. Note specific behaviors or actions which brought the need for a referral. Have the names of several other counselors ready for referral. When this is done. You cannot follow up with the new counselor to see if the client followed through (Confidentiality issue). specific issues need to be addressed with the client: Reason for the referral. Follow-ups need to be scheduled so as to not take the responsibility of change away from the client.Follow-Up At times. Tony Thampi . research. or checking-in with client. a follow-up may be scheduled for various reasons including evaluation.